Fuglsang chose opportunity over money

Jakob Fuglsang has commented on his decision to sign for Team Saxo Bank until 2012, saying that he could have earned more elsewhere but felt staying where he was is the best move for his career.

“I have been happy to race with the team and I believe that here I have the best development opportunities,” he told the Jyllands-Posten newspaper. “I could certainly earn more at another team, but the new agreement with Team Saxo Bank is still much better than the one I signed for one and a half years ago. I have weighted the development [potential] higher than economic.”

Fuglsang moved from the Designa Køkken squad at the end of last season, having won the Tour of Denmark with them. He defended that title this season and won the Tour of Slovenia. He also finished second in the Giro dell’Emilia, sixth overall in both the Volta a Catalunya and the Dauphiné Libéré and tenth in the Tour of Ireland.

Fuglsang recently rode his first Grand Tour when he participated in the Vuelta a España and took second, third and third on stages. More recently, he was second in the Giro dell’Emilia and sixteenth in the Giro di Lombardia. Riis has said that he expects the rider to become a Tour de France contender in the years ahead.

His potential is such that he had several offers. “My manager had started to talk to other teams, as some had approached him as they were interested in me,” stated Fuglsang. “It had a little hard to say, “well, I’m sticking to Saxo Bank for the next three years," but now that the decision has been taken, I am happy with it. I think it is a good decision and I am really glad that I have secured a place for the next three years, even if I could have gotten more out of cycling for another team. I’m happy the way things are run here.”